Oil burner



Aug. 24 1926.

T. A. BIGGS OIL BURNER Filed Sept. 8

1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [we/aw" Aug. 24, 1926. 1,597,044 I T. A. BIGGS OILBURNER Filed Sept. 8 92 2 Sheets-Sheet? Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

UNITED STAT-E rnonms A. mess, on sroux crrx, IOWA.

OIL BURNER.

Application filed September 8, 1924.

My invention relates to oil burners of the general type in which an airflue directs downwardly a draft of air upon a bowl containing a porousrefractory material, into 5 which the oil is fed, and involves a numberof improvements upon the burner illustrated in my co-pending applicationserially numbered 672,678, filed November 3, 1923.

An object of my invention is to provide in such a burner simplicity anddurability of construction together with the novel features which willhereinafter be pointed out.

It is my object to provide means for agitating theporous refractorymaterial within the bowl of the burner in order to prevent the caking ofthe mass due to the forming of carbon in the interstices thereof.

Another object is to provide means for facilitating the dispersing ofthe oil from the end of the oil feed pipe into the mass of refractorymaterial. This object is preferablyv carried out by means of anapertured surrounding the pipe.

A further object is to provide means for rotating the sleeve to preventblocking of the space between the sleeve and the pipe.

A still further object is to provide a con struction wherein theaforementioned sleeve is combined with an oil-spreading plate embeddedin the refractory mass near the top thereof, the sleeve and plate beingretained in position by means of an overflow tube sleeve extendingthrough and above the feed pipe and through the plate, and having acollar adapted to engage the plate.

A further object is to provide means for;

' portion of the bowl has the form of a trunmixing water vapor with thegas vapor in order to improve the combustion of the burner.

flue having a downwardly-directed neck,

which is adjustable in a horizontal plane- A stillfurther object is toprovide an air Serial No. 736,464.

between which and the bowl the outer air passage is formed;

TVith these and other objects in view, my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of mydevice, whereby the objects c011- templated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of theburner with the sleeve rotating means in place.

Fig. 2 is pla-nview of the burner base.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the oil-spreading plate.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal view through the burner, the sleeverotating means being shown removed from engagement with the sleeve.

Fig. 5 a horizontal transverse sectional view through the feed pipe andsleeve, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4;.

In the accompanying drawings I have used the reference character 10 toindicate the cylindrical sides of the burner base. On one side thereofis formed an extruding semi-cylindrical sleeve, 11, in the upper edge 7of which, adjacent the junctures of the sleeve, 11, with the sides, 10,are the slots, 12. The base is reinforced by the bottom flange, 13, andthe ribs, 14, which at their upper ends, are beveled as at 15. (SeeFig.4.)

The burner bowl has the vertical cylindrical sides, 16, which, when thebowl is in place, are spaced from the side of the casing so as to leavethe. air vent, 17. The lower cated cone, as at 18, and the bottom, 19,is thickened to allow for a threaded opening for the feed pipe, whichwill hereinafter be described. 1

The bowl at one side has the inwardly arched portion, 20, which, whenregistering with the portion, 11, forms a cylindrical air passage andsleeve to receive the lower end of the air flue, which will hereinafterbe described. The ears, 21, which continue the curve of the arch, 20,are adapted to be received in the slots,'12, for supporting one side'ofthe bowl and for positioning the bowl. The bowl is supported at itsother side by the upper beveled edges of the ribs, 14.

It will be seen that the bowl is thus supported in fixed spaced relationto the casing, and yet is easily removable therefrom.

The air flue has the vertical tube divided by the flange, 22, into theupper and lower portions, 23 and 23*, respectively. The portion, 23", isreceived within the sleeve formed by the members, 11 and 20, and isslightly spaced therefrom as indicated at 24.

The casing, 10, is designed to be supported on the grates of a furnace,and ordinarily the grates will obstruct a portion of the opening in thebottom of the sleeve 11. The space, 24, therefore allows air from otherpoints within the casing toencircle the lower end, 23', of the air flue,and the slots 25, allow such air to enter the flue. The flue rests uponthe casing and bowl and is supported thereon by means of the flange, 22.

It will be seen that the flue may be rotated. At the upper end of thevertical portion of the flue is the upwardly arched housing, 26, whichreceives the horizontal portion, 27, of the flue. The discharge neck,28, normally extends downwardly over the center of the bowl. The tube,27, is slidably and'rotatably adjustable in the housing. 26, and byrotating the vertical portion of the tube and sliding'and rotating thehorizontal portion, 27, the discharge mouth of the flue may bepositioned at any point above the bowl in order to compensate for draftswithin a furnace in which the burner is installed, which may tend todistort the flame of the burner. The opening, 30,. in the tube, 2 7,

provides communication with the vertical portion, 23 of the flue.

Oil is supplied to the. burner through a feed pipe, 31, connected bymeans of a union, 32, with a short vertical section. of piping, 33,which is threaded into the base, 19, of the bowl. The oil feed dischargepipe, 34, is threaded into the same opening and extends upwardlysomewhat above the center of the bowl. Surrounding the pipe, 34, is asleeve. 35, which is spaced therefrom. Surrounding the sleeve, 35, is amass of porous refractory material such as gravel, 36.

' As the oil is discharged from the upper end of the feed pipe, 34, itescapes into the mass of gravel, 36, through the longitudinal slot, 37,in the sleeve, 35. (See Fig. 5.) The sleeve, 35, protects the upper endof the tube, 34, from clogging with gravel, and allows the oil to spreadover a considerable surface before encountering the gravel. By allowingthe oil to escape from the relatively long aperture, 37, the danger ofthe 'dis charge opening for the oil becoming clogged is minimized.

As explained in my co-pending application heretofore referred to, therefractory material, 36, is heated by the flame from the burner and theheat isconducted therethrough to the bottom of the mass, the oil beingvaporized near the bottom thereof and ascending upwardly in the form ofa gas to be burned at the surface.

In order to correctly form the ring of flame, the deflecting plate, 33,described in my former application, is provided, being herein formed asan integral part of the sleeve, 35.

Through an opening in the center of the plate, 38, the oil overflowtube, 39, extends, and receives at its upper end a collar, 40, whichengages the plate and secures the sleeve and plate in position. Thelower end of the tube, 39, is threaded into the coupling, 32.

I find that the gravel frequently becomes cake'd with carbon forming inthe interstices between the grains thereof, and in order to control thistendency I provide means for agitating the mass, which is as follows. Inthe side of the sleeve, 35, extending outwardly may be firmly embeddedthe agitating pins or fingers. 41. Similar fingers, 42, are supported bythe plate, 38, and extend downwardly therefrom. By rotating the sleeve,the fingers will agitate the gravel sufficiently to keep it in a porouscondition.

In order to rotate the sleeve I provide a crown ratchet ring, 43, formedon the upper surface of the plate and concentric therewith. Theco-acting ratchet member, 44, has a downwardlyprojecting stud or post.45, adapted to enter the upper end of the tube, 39, for centering themember, 44, in position in engagement with the ring, 43. A handle, 46,may be provided to extend out through the door of the furnace in whichthe burner is installed, and by swinging the handle, 46, back and forththe sleeve, 45, may be completely rotated. When not in use, the drivingmember, 44, is removed through the mouth of the furnace.

In order to prevent the sleeve, 35, working to a position eccentric ofthe pipe, 34, wherein the slot, 37, would be closed by said pipe, Iprovide a vertical longitudinal rib,

In addition the rib, 47 serves to prevent the formation of carbon on theexterior of the feed pipe, 34, by scraping the same when the sleeve isrotated.

I provide the tube, 48, which is threaded into the bowl near the bottomthereof, and which is adapted to be connected with a source of watersupply in order to feed water into the bowl. Thg water will be convertedto steam, and when used in the correct quantity aids in the combustionof the hydro carbons.

it will be seen that the flame will be formed around the periphery ofthe plate, 38, and will be forced outwardly against: the wall, 16, bythe outwardly spreading blast of air from above. As the flame passes-theupper edge of the wall, 16, it will contact with the current of airsurrounding the bowl and issuing from the space, 17. This current of airhelps to preserve the cylindrical shape of the flame, supplies anabundance of oxygen for the outer surface of the flame, and'thus aperfect combustion may be obtained, the fiame being surrounded on allsides by cur-- rents of air.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purposeof my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims anymodified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which maybe. reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an oil burner, abowl, a mass of porous refractory materialtherein, a plate embedded in the mass near the top thereof and spacedfrom the sides thereof, means for feeding oil into the mass below theplate, means for rotating the plate, and an agitating finger extendingfrom the plate into the mass.

2. In an oil burner, a bowl, amass of porous refractory materialtherein, a plate embedded in the mass and having an agitating fingerextending into the mass, and means for rotating the plate.

3. In an oil burner, a bowl, an oil feed pipe extending into the bowlfrom the bottom thereof, a sleeve surrounding the feed pipe, a mass ofporous refractory material surrounding the sleeve, an agitating fingerfixed to the sleeve and extending into the mass, and means for rotatingthe sleeve.

4. In an oil burner, a bowl, an oil feed pipe extending thereinto fromthe bottom thereof, a sleeve surrounding the feed pipe and closed at itstop, said sleeve having an oil discharge slot in its side, means forrotating the sleeve, and a mass of refractory porous materialsurrounding the sleeve.

5. In an oil burner, a bowl, a mass of porous refractory materialtherein, a circular imperforate plate embedded in the mass and spacedslightly from the side of the bowl on all sides and having an agitatingfinger extending into the mass, said plate being rotatable.

6. In an oil burner, a bowl, an oil feed pipe extending into the bowlfrom the bot tom thereof, a sleeve surrounding the feed pipe, a mass ofporous refractory material surrounding the sleeve, an agitating fingerfixed to the sleeve and extending into the mass. said sleeve beingrotatable.

7. In an oil burner, a bowl, an oil feed pipe extending thereinto fromthe bottom thereof, a sleeve surrounding the feed pipe and having an oildischarge slot'in its side, a plate on the sleeve at the upper endthereof, said plate being spaced from the sides ofthe bowl, a mass ofporous refractory material surrounding the sleeve and embedding theplate, agitating means fixed to the sleeve and extending intothe'refractory mass, and means for rotating the sleeve and plate.

8. In an oil burner, a bowl, an oil feed pipe extending thereinto fromthe bottom thereof, a sleeve surrounding the feed pipe and having an oildischarge slot in its side, a plate on the sleeve at the upper endthereof, said plate being spaced from the sides of the bowl, a mass ofporous refractory material surrounding the sleeve and embedding theplate, agitating means fixed to the sleeve and extending into therefractory mass, and means for rotating the sleeve and plate, said meanscomprising a crown ratchet ring on the plate, and a crown ratchetdriving member detachably engageable with the said ring.

9. In an oil burner, a bowl, a mass of porous refractory materialtherein, a plate embedded in said mass, an agitating member on the plateextending into the mass, a crown ratchet ring on the plate, the platehaving an opening centered with relation to said ring, and a crownratchet driving member removably engageable with the said ring, saiddriving member having a centering post receivable in said opening.

10. In an oil burner, a bowl, an oil feed pipe extending thereinto fromthe bottom thereof, a longitudinally apertured sleeve surrounding saidpipe, a longitudinal rib on the interior of said sleeve protrudinginwardly toward the feed pipe, and means for rotating the sleeve.

11. In an oil burner, a bowl, an oil feed pipe extending thereinto fromthe bottom thereof, a longitudinally apertured sieeve surrounding saidpipe, a scraper on the inner surface of the sleeve adjacent an edge ofthe aperture thereof, the sleeve being rotatable.

12. In an oil burner, a casing, a bowl supported therein and spacedtherefrom so as to provide an air passage surrounding the bowl,refractory material in the bowl substantially filling the same, animperforate plate embedded in the refractory material near the surfacethereof, means for introducing oil into the bowl below the plate, and anair flue supported at one side of the casing and communicatingtherewith, said flue having a downwardly arched discharge neck centeredover the bowl.

13. In an oil burner, a casing having at one side an extrudingsemi-cylindrical sleeve, said sleeve having at its upper edge near thejunctures of the sleeve with the casing a pair of slots, a bowl havingat one side a pair of ears adapted to be received in said slots, meansin the casing positioned diametrically opposite the sleeve forsupporting and spacing the bowl concentric with the casing, said bowlbeing of sufficiently smaller diameter than the casing to provide an airpassage between the bowl and the casing, and an air flue having itslower end received Within the semi-cylindrical sleeve and its upper enddirected downward- 1y over the bowl.

Id. In an oil burner, a bowl, a vertical air flue rotatably supportedrelative to said bowl, a horizontal cylindrical housing on the upper endof said vertical flue, a flue section slidably and rotatably mounted insaid cylindrical housing and having a down- Wardly directed dischargeneck adapted to be positioned over the bowl.

Signed at Sioux City, in the county VVoodbury and State of Iowa, this3rd day of September, 1924.

THOMAS A. BIGGS.

